By the time the leaves change this fall, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class family will add a new range-topping luxury coupe to its stable. The 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe will take over for the outgoing CL-Class, adopting Mercedes-Benz's latest “sensual purity” design language along with all of the cutting-edge luxury and technology features expected of a Mercedes-Benz halo car. For now, it will be offered exclusively as an S550 model with 4Matic all-wheel-drive.

Dashing Design

Unsurprisingly, the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe is nearly identical to the Concept S-Class Coupe that debuted at the 2013 Frankfurt auto show. Some of the flashy show-car elements from the concept, such as the chrome bar in the lower front intake, will not make it into production, but there is still plenty of bling. Among the more absurdly extravagant details are the 47 Swarovski crystals integrated into the headlamps on special S550 Edition 1 models. On these models, daytime running lamps consist of 17 angular crystals, while the remaining 30 rounded crystals compose the turn-indicator lamps. There are also a few sportier design features, such as the more sculpted side skirts and C-shaped rear bumper scoops, which underscore the S-Class coupe's performance character. 18-inch wheels come standard, but wheels up to 20 inches in diameter are available as optional equipment. Despite the coupe's long hood and flowing shape, it is actually much smaller than its four-door counterpart: 8.5 inches shorter in length and 2.8 inches lower in height, with a wheelbase that is 8.6 inches less than that of the S-Class sedan.

The interior is essentially the same as the one found in the 2014 S-Class sedan, complete with its “floating” lower dashboard positioned beneath the dual-screen digital instrument cluster and display. Standard on the S-Class coupe is a panorama roof that Mercedes-Benz says appears nearly 150 percent larger than on the CL-Class; it also features adjustable light transparency. The rear seats were designed as the individual seats, and like the front passenger and driver's seat, can be fitted with nappa leather in a diamond-shaped stitching pattern. Three new interior colors will be introduced for the two-door S-Class: Bengal red, saddle brown, and porcelain.

Like the latest S550 sedan, the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 4Matic is powered by a 4.7-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine making 449 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Although the powertrain is not unique to the S-Class Coupe, the model will be the first to incorporate Mercedes-Benz's new active curve tilting technology. The technology aims to make the grand-touring coupe enter and lean into winding curves “in a manner similar to a motorcyclist or skier.” Hydraulic cylinders in each individual suspension strut respond to steering inputs, allowing the vehicle to change its body angle by up to 2.5 degrees in a fraction of a second. These changes are supposed to cause the passengers to sit more snugly in their seats, thereby lessening the sensation of lateral movement on winding roads. Although passengers may not feel the sportiness of the S-Class coupe as much, they'll surely be able to hear it thanks to the vehicle's input-sensitive exhaust note. Flaps in the exhaust system either open or close for a sportier sound depending on engine speed, and the switch points for these flaps can be changed via the car's selectable driving modes.

A Statement of Stateliness

The 2014 S-Class sedan broke new ground for Mercedes in terms of comfort, design, and technology, and set the benchmark its segment. The S-Class coupe marries those qualities with a much more expressive design language that is meant to make a statement. As Mercedes-Benz has previously said, there is a tradition of large coupes sitting atop the German automaker's lineup. Expect the S550 4Matic coupe, like the current CL-Class, to carry a six-figure price tag when it hits showrooms this fall following its debut at the 2014 Geneva auto show. No doubt the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe will attract those who want (and can afford) the absolute best in style and luxury – and aren't shy about showing it off.

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